The J.M. Davis Foundation, which runs the J.M. Davis Arms Museum in Claremore, Oklahoma, and the state of Oklahoma recently reached an agreement over a nearly 10-year-old lawsuit alleging breach of contract by the state.
The Claremore Daily Progress reported:
Under the terms of the agreement approved Friday, Oct. 6, 2017 by Rogers County District Court, the State of Oklahoma affirmed its obligation under the original Lease Agreement to continue its responsibility for the maintenance and upkeep of the extensive J.M. Davis Collection of arms and historical artifacts at the J.M. Davis Arms and Historical Museum located in Claremore.
In addition, the J.M. Davis Foundation, Inc. agreed to sell a modest portion of the Davis Collection to provide funding for the preservation and conservation work on artifacts remaining in the collection.
Historical enthusiasts will continue to be able to view and enjoy the Collection during museum business hours with no admission charge, as required under the original agreement.
When the foundation sued in 2008, it alleged neglect, mismanagement and theft by the state, which was entrusted to keep up the collection:
[T]hat audit report found that the museum was missing 125 firearms of the 13,354 guns that were actually counted. The value of the missing firearms was placed at more than $1 million, documents show.
The audit also has revealed that guns and artifacts weren’t being properly cleaned and maintained. In the petition, the foundation maintains that air-conditioning issues, which cause problems such as rusting and fungal growth, and roof leaks have threatened the collection for years.
At one point during the early days of the lawsuit, the foundation threatened to liquidate the entire collection and shut down the museum permanently.
The museum along Route 66 contains about 20,000 firearms and related items, plus about 1,200 beer steins, 19th-century music boxes, Native American artifacts, swords, knives, antiques, boot jacks, cattle brands, horns and trophy heads.
It all was a part of Claremore resident J.M. Davis’ collection until he died at age 78 in 1973. His collection once graced the Mason Motel along Route 66 in Claremore. The museum building opened in 1969.
(Image of display cases at the J.M. Davis Arms and Historical Museum in Claremore, Oklahoma, by CGP Grey via Flickr)
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